Direct Competitors and Related Products

Expert reviews and ratings

ASUS Chromebit, an official product from Google, is a hassle-free solution for users who are familiar with Chrome browser and its web store apps, and want to easily access the web easily and without compromise of a limited mobile-based platform (like...

The main question about the Chromebit is what would you use it for? If you want to assemble a cheap home PC for basic work and internet duties, plus you have a screen and peripherals knocking around, then it's an excellent, cost-effective device....

On the face of it, the Asus Chromebit is a good-value device. £80 for a relatively capable PC is a bargain however you look at it, although it's not as cheap as I would have expected for such a low-powered device that isn't lumbered with an expensive...

The Chromebit is a compact, versatile HDMI dongle that transforms your existing display or TV into a Chrome OS-powered all-in-one. Chrome OS's lighter footprint makes better use of the limited hardware resources on the Chromebit, making it a better user...

ASUS' new Chromebit strives to squeeze the power of the internet into a single, relatively cheap HDMI dongle. Basic tasks like email, web browsing and word processing is a cinch, and the Chromebit is pretty good at handle 1080p video streams too. Still, the sometimes frustrating setup process and inability to accommodate serious multitasking mean it won't be for everybody. Keep your expectations in check: Buy it to be your kid's first computer, a terminal for Airbnb guests or a way to breathe life into an extra monitor. If you're looking for anything more than that, you'd best look elsewhere.

If you're well aware of what the Chromebit can and (more importantly) can't do, then by all means give it a shot. Since it runs Chrome OS, you won't have to deal with a lot of setup or maintenance — Google handles all of that for you. Many people have found real uses for Chromebooks — it's entirely possible to get 90 percent of what most of us use computers for done on them. Worst case scenario: you have a spare computer sitting in your junk drawer, just in case.

If you just need a simple device that can occasionally move around and turn various screens into full-on computers for short periods, it seems like the ASUS Chromebit is for you — and if it turns out to not be the right computer for your needs, at least you're only out $85 in the end.

At the end of the day, there are two important factors that set the Asus Chromebit apart from other competing mini computers. The first is the Mali GPU, which helps pick up the slack in video playback, light gaming, and quick tab switches — an area...